A software professional working at a multinational corporation has sparked discussion online after alleging that employees are being monitored throughout the workday, leaving little flexibility for lunch breaks, coffee breaks or short periods away from their computers.
The claims were made in a Reddit post titled "Foreign MNC behaving as lala company - Tracking Minute to Minute Work Hours", where the employee alleged that the monitoring measures had been introduced at the request of a client.
Employee alleges strict monitoring requirements
According to the post, workers are required to log 8.15 hours of work while being tracked continuously through software. The employee claimed that time sheets are not approved unless the required activity levels are maintained.
The techie said the arrangement creates pressure to remain in front of a laptop for more than eight hours and leaves little room for routine breaks during the day.
"Never thought in my life that a foreign MNC company will bend their knees in front of clients. Client has mandated to work 8.15 hours with minute to minute tracking using software," the employee wrote.
The post further claimed that commonly used methods to keep systems active, such as placing an object on the keyboard or moving the mouse, do not bypass the monitoring system.
Concerns raised over employee retention and work quality
The employee argued that such policies could drive skilled workers away and affect the quality of work delivered by organisations.
Expressing frustration with the approach, the techie said company leadership should place greater emphasis on employee performance and work quality rather than continuous surveillance.
The post also criticised the increasing use of artificial intelligence in workplaces, suggesting that excessive reliance on AI-generated content and customer service tools may negatively affect user experience and productivity.
The employee said they hoped organisations would eventually adopt a more balanced approach that uses AI in a limited capacity while continuing to value human expertise.
Reddit users weigh in on workplace practices
The post generated significant engagement on Reddit, prompting conversations about employee monitoring, workplace trust and labour standards.
Several users claimed that some companies operating as multinational corporations follow management practices similar to traditional family-run businesses despite their international presence.
Others argued that stricter employment laws in some countries prevent companies from implementing similar monitoring measures abroad, while weaker enforcement in other regions makes such practices easier to adopt.
Some commenters also alleged that workplace tracking systems are becoming increasingly common across industries, with concerns that screen activity is being used as a measure of productivity rather than the quality of work produced.
The discussion highlighted broader concerns among employees about surveillance technologies and their impact on workplace culture.
